We have answer on Dow now

For those who wondered whether Attorney General Paul Dow would be any difference that those who came before — mostly a lackluster crowd always looking the other way, letting politicians off easy — we have the answer. Assemblyman Anthony Chiappone, a Hudson County Democrat, has pleaded guilty to tampering with finance campaign records. He was elected while under indictment. He and his wife, Diane, were charged with conspiracy, official misconduct, theft by deception, tampering with public records, falsifying records and concealment of campaign contributions. Authorities said the couple pocketed paychecks for five legislative aides and funneled the money to a failed 2005 campaign. They said $4,928 went to personal accounts while $3,233 went toward the campaign.

But Chiappone got a plea deal. Charges were dropped against his wife and all charges against the assemblyman were dropped except the tampering with public records. He gives up his Assembly seat and won’t seek public office again — no big deal since he probably had no chance of being elected. He is likely to face probation.

This raises serious questions about Dow’s performance and whether political corruption will get a wink and a nod under her direction. This sure make it look like that. Those who thought Chris Christie’s attorney general would be an improvement are disappointed.

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About Bob Ingle

Bob Ingle is Senior Political Columnist for Gannett New Jersey newspapers and co-author of The New York Times' Best Seller, "The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption" and "Chris Christie: The Inside Story Of His Rise To Power". He has won numerous journalism awards and is often a news analyst on radio and television. Twitter @ bobingle99.

8 Responses to We have answer on Dow now

The only reason EVERY elected official from Hudson, Essex, Union, Middlesex, Mercer and Gloucester county is not under indictment or in jail is because NO ONE WANTS them to be. In NJ there is only person who is that NO ONE and that is the governor. If corruption is not being ferreted out (I use ferreted very lightly since a blind man could find more corruption) it is not because paula dow is a democrat lackey it is because Christy appointed her to be a democrat lackey. Just face it, when you are in the club, as long as you go along, you are safe. (I would not doubt this chiappone character supported adler against lautenburg and that is why they got him, same as Joe Vas, and don’t be surprised if wiesniewski is next). Assume your representative is crooked then, if he/she turns out not to be you can be surprised, don’t allow yourself to be surprised when they are given up as crooked. If you are involved with either machine in NJ you are a pig, plain and simple.

The most telling line in this story, the line that says the most about the caliber of people in NJ and especially, in this case, Hudson County residents is, “He was elected while under indictment.”

Even dummies like Dow, Vena and Rivera know Killer Carranza has several SS no’s and multiple identities to defraud the US government to collect numerous tax-paid benefits (a common practice with Third World illegals).

Newark Mayor Corky Booker should have kicked Rivera, Vena and Dow out of the justice system. These people corrupted the system and let killer Carranza roam free.

Dolts with law degrees. The rancid odor of affirmative action fouls the air.

For a sec there, I thought this was about Corzine’s onetime deputy chief of staff Javier Inclan.

Inclan the Bagman delivered envelopes of undocumented campaign money from convicted human trafficer and barroom owner Luisa Medrano to Guttenberg Mayor David Delle Donna. Medrano gave the Delle Donna family presents, as well.

April 4, 2008 in a court of law, Corzine’s top aide, Inclan, implicated himself in wrongdoing, testifying about undocumented cash contributions Inclan reportedly passed to ayor Delle Donna.

The prosecution asked Inclan: “why aren’t you on trial.”

The extent of the corruption in the Hudson County Clerk’s office (then-headed by Javier Inclan) was so pervasive, the US Dept of State had stopped accepting passport applications processed by Inclan’s office, or birth certificates issued by Hud/Cty as proof of US citizenship, pending the outcome of an ongoing corruption investigation.

Seems Inclan was involved in the illegal sale of documents. Yet, Corzine still hired Inclan.

The overwhelming majority of those pleas or convictions of state officials were garnered through federal sources. The list of state AGs appointed by the various governors has been less than stelllar, in fact as with Peter Harvey he was complicit in working with McGreevey. Who can forget Zullima Farber who resigned in disgrace or Stu Rabner who failed to show for work knowing he would be appointed by Corzine to the SSC. The following appointment was so ineffective I have forgotten her name as the state police and FBI and Federal AG would conduct investigations and arrests without contacting the state AG’s office. The whole office of state AG is ineffective even with a budget of over a billion dollars and 1000 attorneys. looking for cutbacks? Look no further than an ineffective department of State AG. At least nobody would notice a difference.

The Christie Family Mob Connection is pretty deep. While Fiumara may not be the God Father, according to top law Enforcement officials, Fuimara currently sits on a three-person ruling panel that oversees the Genovese family.

During his background check by the FBI for the job as US Attorney General, Christie hid his mob connection from the FBI, stating he did not make the revelation because his mafia connections where a personal matter and not a professional matter.

When questioned in a NY Times Interview in 2007 why he was tougher during his tenure as Attorney General on public corruption and street gangs than on organize crime, Christie replied “the Mafia is much more prominent on HBO than in New Jersey.”

In total, it took me roughly 25 minutes to discover this awesome post. Thanks so much.

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Bob Ingle, Senior Political Columnist for Gannett New Jersey newspapers, on politics in "The Soprano State".

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Bob IngleBob Ingle is Senior Political Columnist for Gannett New Jersey Newspapers and co-author of The New York Times' Best Seller, "The Soprano State: New Jersey's Culture of Corruption." Hear him Fridays at 5 p.m. on www.tommygshow.com radio. twitter.com/bobingle99 E-mail Bob

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"Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power," written by Bob Ingle and Michael Symons, offers the first inside portrait of New Jersey’s governor, who in two years as governor emerged as a national Republican Party figure famous for his blunt public statements. The book details Christie’s combative public persona and deep family roots, tracing his improbable political rise from a bruising stint in county government to his anti-corruption crusade as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. Chris Christie: The Inside Story of His Rise to Power goes behind the scenes to reveal his family life, his public life, and what the future might hold..

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"The Soprano State," written by Bob Ingle and Sandy McClure, details the you-couldn't-make-this-up true story of the corruption that has pervaded New Jersey politics, government, and business for the past thirty years. From Jimmy Hoffa purportedly being buried somewhere beneath the end zone in Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands, through allegations of a thoroughly corrupt medical and dental university, through Mafia influence at all levels, to a governor who suddenly declares himself a “gay American” and resigns, the Garden State might indeed be better named after the HBO mobsters.

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